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30 30 Minutes or Less GF Gluten-Free DF Dairy-Free VG Vegetarian

Quinoa Salad with Orange & Grapes

4.67
/5
45 minutes mins
13 Comments
Jump to Recipe Video
By: Rachel GurkPosted: 06/30/2023Updated: 07/03/2023

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Quinoa salad with orange and grapes pinterest graphic, with text and photos.
Quinoa salad with orange and grapes pinterest graphic, with text and photos.
Quinoa salad with orange and grapes pinterest graphic, with text and photos.
Quinoa salad with orange and grapes pinterest graphic, with text and photos.
Quinoa Salad with Grapes and Celery | RachelCooks.com

Sweet grapes, crisp celery, and juicy orange segments adorn this quinoa salad. The tangy orange vinaigrette and crunchy almonds top it perfectly.

Recipe Overview

Why you’ll love it: A quinoa salad packs plenty of healthy protein so you won’t be left feeling hungry. Perfect for pack-and-go lunches!

How long it takes: 15 minutes, plus 10 minutes to cook the quinoa (you can do that ahead)
Equipment you’ll need: saucepan, mixing bowl, zester or microplane
Servings: 8 side servings or 4 main course servings

Quinoa salad in a large bowl, with oranges, grapes, almonds.
Table of Contents
open
  • 1 Recipe Overview
  • 2 What You’ll Love About This Quinoa Salad
  • 3 Is Quinoa Good For You?
  • 4 Ingredients You’ll Need
  • 5 How To Make This Quinoa Salad
  • 6 FAQs
  • 7 Change It Up
  • 8 Storage & Make Ahead Tips
  • 9 More Quinoa Salads
  • 10 Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad Recipe with Orange & Grapes

I’m excited about this quinoa salad with orange and grapes. I LOVE it. It’s hands-down the best salad that I’ve tasted so far this season. (I know I say that about every salad. I’m just a salad girl. What can I say, salads get me excited!)

We’ve been eating a lot of vegetarian salads with more of a Mediterranean vibe lately, like this chopped Greek salad or Israeli couscous salad. Everyone loves my Caprese pasta salad, too, but I think we need a break from the tomatoes and cucumbers.

This quinoa salad is so refreshing and the flavors are perfect. The grapes are sweet and soft, the celery crisp and fresh, and the orange segments and zest make everything so lively and exciting. Salted almonds add a savory crunch.

What You’ll Love About This Quinoa Salad

  • The ingredients (oranges, grapes, celery) are available year round. This isn’t a seasonal salad that relies on ingredients that are only around for a limited time. You can enjoy this salad any time of the year.
  • It’s super versatile. You can add nuts, seeds, cheese, even chicken if you like. Dried fruits like raisins or cranberries are a great addition, and seasonal fresh fruit can stand in for the grapes. Keep reading for lots more ideas.
  • You can prep the quinoa ahead. You can put this salad together in 15 minutes if you have the quinoa made ahead. I almost always have already-cooked quinoa in my freezer or fridge. I cook the entire package of quinoa at once (try Instant Pot quinoa) so it’s ready when I need it. I love quinoa salads (see a list below) and I also add quinoa to other recipes, like pancakes or savory breakfast muffins.

Is Quinoa Good For You?

Quinoa is actually a seed although it’s classified as a whole grain. It’s gluten-free and a complete protein, meaning it has all the amino acids you need for protein. Each one cup serving contains 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, along with many other important nutrients. Quinoa is definitely good for you!

Salad in a small bowl, next to a larger serving bowl of salad.

Ingredients You’ll Need

I’ll run through the recipe here to get you started. Be sure to refer to the recipe card below for measurements, instructions, and nutrition information.

  • Quinoa: You’ll need a cup of uncooked quinoa. You can make quinoa ahead and either freeze or refrigerate it. Quinoa comes in different colors: red, black, or white; choose your favorite kind. The quinoa pictured in this salad is white.
  • Red Grapes: Either red or green grapes are fine but I like the color contrast of red grapes for this salad. Cut the grapes in half so they are easier to eat.
  • Celery: Crisp green celery provides a nice crunch. Did you know that celery has important antioxidants, fiber, and minerals that are beneficial to your health?
  • Red Onion: You can substitute a sweet onion if you prefer. To reduce the assertive flavor of onions, soak the diced onion in ice water for 10 minutes or so. Drain well.
  • Oranges: You’ll need 2 navel oranges and none of the orange will go to waste because the zest and juice go in the vinaigrette and the juicy segments go into the salad too.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This heart-healthy oil has so much flavor. It brings a lot to the salad so aim for a high quality olive oil (the greener the better!).
  • White Wine Vinegar: Slightly sweet in flavor, white wine vinegar blends perfectly with the orange juice to make a juicy, yummy dressing.
  • Honey: I like to enhance the natural sweetness of the fruit with just a smidge of honey. If your honey is crystallized or super thick, warm it up a bit in the microwave before adding it to the vinaigrette. If you happen to follow a vegan diet, simply substitute maple syrup or agave, or leave it out entirely.
  • Almonds: Salted roasted almonds add the finishing touch to the salad. If you prefer a different kind of nut, that’s totally acceptable. Be sure to toast/roast the nuts before you add them to the salad for the best flavor.
Ingredients needed for the recipe, including onion, grapes, quinoa.

How To Make This Quinoa Salad

The first thing you’ll need to do is cook the quinoa. Follow the package directions. When the quinoa is cooked, spread it out on a rimmed baking pan or tray so it cools more quickly.

Quinoa in a large bowl, surrounded by other ingredients.

Next, prep the oranges. Using a microplane or zester, zest one of the oranges first. It’s so much easier to zest an orange when it’s whole! Next, segment the oranges. If you are uncertain how to do this, this short Youtube video from Real Simple is very helpful.

In a large bowl, lightly combine the cooled quinoa, orange segments, grapes, celery, and onion.

Ingredients, not yet mixed.
Ingredients, combined.

Whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients: the freshly squeezed orange juice, orange zest, olive oil, honey, and white wine vinegar.

Dressing ingredients, not yet mixed.
Dressing whisked together.

Add the vinaigrette to the salad, and stir until well combined. Taste a spoonful of salad to check the seasoning. You may want to add a pinch of kosher salt and a couple of grinds of black pepper. Add the chopped almonds right before serving.

Quinoa salad on serving spoon.

Your salad can be served immediately or refrigerated for up to three days. It’s delicious at room temperature or chilled.

FAQs

How much does one cup of dried quinoa make?

One cup of dried quinoa makes 3 cups of cooked quinoa.

Change It Up

This is a pretty simple salad and it’s easy to customize it. Use what you have in the fridge. Here are a few suggestions to get you thinking:

  • Make it a main dish salad: Add toasted pecans, toasted walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds for extra protein. Add cheese: feta, goat, gorgonzola, smoked gouda, fresh mozzarella, whatever you like. A can of garbanzo beans (rinsed and drained) adds more protein. Meat lovers, stir in cooked and cooled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken. 
  • Try different fruit and vegetable combinations: strawberries and spinach leaves, peaches and jicama, orange sections and avocado. You get the idea. Be creative!
  • Include dried fruits: Dried fruits, like cranberries, apricots, cherries, dates, or raisins are a lovely addition.
  • Add chopped fresh herbs: A handful of parsley, lemon balm, fresh mint, or basil is always a good idea!
  • Make it vegan: Omit the honey and use maple syrup or agave instead.
Close up of salad on fork.

Storage & Make Ahead Tips

If you prefer, make this salad ahead. It keeps well for up to three days. I prefer to hold the chopped nuts and add them right before serving so they retain their crunch. Refrigerate it in a tightly covered container (or individual sized containers) and serve it whenever you’re ready. Perfect for lunchboxes, too!

More Quinoa Salads

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Blackberries & Candied Pepitas

Kale Sweet Potato Salad with Quinoa and Creamy Chili Lime Dressing

Vegan Quinoa Salad with Brussels Sprouts & Pepitas

Kale Quinoa Salad with Walnuts, Cranberries, and Feta

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Quinoa salad with orange and grapes in a white bowl.
Recipe

Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad Recipe with Orange & Grapes

4.67 from 6 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Time to cook quinoa: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 45 minutes mins
8 side servings
Print Rate Recipe
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Sweet grapes, crisp celery, and juicy orange segments adorn this quinoa salad. The tangy orange vinaigrette and crunchy almonds top it perfectly.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa (3 cups cooked)
  • 2 cups halved red grapes
  • 3 stalks celery, thinly sliced (2 cups)
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
  • 2 oranges, segmented and segments halved (be sure to zest the orange first!)
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest
  • 1 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice, squeezed from membranes
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey (see note)
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
  • ½ cup chopped salted roasted almonds (or your favorite roasted nuts or seeds)

Instructions

  • Cook quinoa as directed on package. Spread on plate or baking sheet to cool slightly.
  • Prepping the oranges (see notes): Zest one orange first. You should have about 1 teaspoon of zest. Set the zest aside. Using a sharp knife, slice off the bottom and top of each orange. Set the oranges on the flat side and cut away the peel and white pitch. Segment each orange, placing the segments into a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from the remaining membranes into a small bowl. You should have at least 1 tablespoon of juice.
  • Add the quinoa, grapes, celery, and onion to the large bowl that contains the orange segments. Mix lightly to combine.
  • In the bowl containing the orange juice, add the remaining dressing ingredients: orange zest, olive oil, vinegar, honey, and salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
  • Pour the vinaigrette over the quinoa mixture and stir until all ingredients are distributed. Fold in almonds.
  • Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Notes

  • Vegan Option: Omit honey. Maple syrup or agave can be substituted.
  • Make Ahead: Salad will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator in a tightly covered container.
  • Not sure how to segment an orange? Take a look at this short YouTube video from Real Simple.
  • Try seasonal fruits instead of the grapes, such as berries, peaches, sweet cherries, etc.
  • If desired, add ¼ to ½ cup crumbled feta, goat, or blue cheese.
  • Dried fruit (raisins, golden raisins, cranberries, cherries) can be added to the salad, if you like.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 0.75cup, Calories: 216kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 9g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.001g, Sodium: 87mg, Potassium: 371mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 175IU, Vitamin C: 21mg, Calcium: 59mg, Iron: 2mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk
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  1. nancy says

    May 17, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    This was really good, but next time I will 1/2 the quinoa. Adding chicken or pork chunks would be good.

    Reply
    • Rachel Gurk says

      May 19, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

      Reply
  2. Kristine says

    May 29, 2013 at 7:00 pm

    I made this salad last week and it was so good! I added chicken to make it more substantial as a main dish, and the leftovers were perfect for weekday lunches.

    Reply
  3. Trenton M. Newton says

    May 28, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    This sounds scrumptious. I’d like to see a video of you halving those grapes with that huge knife. If I used it my fingers would end up as part of the salad. Eeeewwww.

    Reply
  4. Mom says

    May 16, 2013 at 11:01 am

    I think this would be great with some toasted nuts mixed in. Yummy. What a nice take along salad for picnics, lunches, etc.

    Reply
  5. Laurie {SimplyScratch} says

    May 14, 2013 at 8:24 am

    I’ve just recently fallen in love with quinoa… and this salad sounds perfect Rachel :)

    Reply
  6. Sues says

    May 13, 2013 at 10:30 pm

    This looks so light and delicious! I love grapes in salads :)

    Reply
  7. Carla @ Carlas Confections says

    May 13, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Oh I love this salad!! :) Looks so delish! So glad your Mother’s Day was good!!!

    Reply
  8. Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking says

    May 13, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    Such a gorgeous, flavorful and wholesome salad! I love it!

    Reply
  9. carrian says

    May 13, 2013 at 4:38 pm

    HAHAHA, I just hopped on to find a grape salad recipe for toight. Thank ya my dear! Couldn’t have been more perfect

    Reply
  10. Rebecca @ Pure and Peanut Free says

    May 13, 2013 at 4:08 pm

    Yummy! This sound so good. Love grapes and celery together. I make a similar salad with couscous, but never with quinoa. Will have to try. A very happy Mother’s day to you!

    Reply
  11. sally @ sallys baking addiction says

    May 13, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Happy Belated Mother’s Day Rachel! The sweet zest of orange paired with quinoa sounds heavenly. And one of my favorite snacks mixed with it – grapes! So good.

    Reply
  12. Aggie says

    May 13, 2013 at 2:03 pm

    I’m with you!! I didn’t want to cook or wash dishes!!

    This looks so good and something I need in my fridge. ASAP. :)

    Reply

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